Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-22
Was 1t Murder?
From the Atlanta Constitution.
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Was 1t Murder?
From the Atlanta Constitution
Was 1t murder?
group OF officers stood in an Atlanta book
store one sultry afternoon In 'sxty-four, discus
sing the execution Of a batch OF deserters 1t was
just before the siege. Sherman was on the other
side OF the Chattahoochee, and as the officers
talked the sullen boom Of cannon every now and
then interrupted their conversation.
But was 1t murder?
This question was uppermost In my mind as
Listened horror;stricken to the running talk
youth Of sixteen.
"Oh, it's all right" observed the major
discipline must be maintained at any cost"
p ayes e. %. Of Course Course assented the capta,n
"BeyOnd doubt" was the majors comment.
"Besldes, :" said the general, che was no longer
He was soldier, and when he deserted he knew
the consequences"
Just So" echoed the Others simultaneously, but
their faces wore cloudy look.
Inc general picked up Jomini's cart OF War;"
and spoke e. OF IL as greatly overrated book.
what is the price Of 1t?- he inquired
''F1fteen dollars" replied the bookseller
.,ai You see, gentlemen" said the general, show
these cormorants take advantage OF our misfor-
cents!n ." WYNN "0''n my
II The military men all giared at the bookseller,
who wisely said nothing.
"Yes," said the captain, apparently resuming
his talk, II was never SO affected in my life as
Ibid he f1inch?" asked the major
Not bit. He was very pale, and his eyes had
that faraway look peculiar to men who are looking
death in the face. He stood it like hero, never
treInbed, and had his wits about him to the last"
'Died instantly, didn't he?" said the general.
. "Ses ,r -Four r. balls h through the heart"
$50 much the better. He did not suffer-" And
the general picked up "Mahan on Field FOrttfica.
| t1ons."
%! heard that boy belonged to good family, ~
Joined the army and fought bravely His deser-
ton was more OF little escapade than anything
else"
'If Sherman was not pressing us so Internally
nard,' interrupted the captain, che would have
been let off, but the court-martial lust rushed
things through, and there was nobody to look
Boom: Boom! thundered the cannon over the
MUS avy at the ssd drGat. .nv,o,v ,oo,.
posed the general. ave must look after the army
and its discipline"
'SThe fact Is" continued the general .smatters
have reached point where we must make an ex-
ample OF every man wko fails to do his duty"
my blood run cold to slaughter mere bows
The general tucked Jomlni's "Art OF War; in his
pocket eta and paid for 1t. Then he turned around
NOW listen to me-" he said impressively ssYou
certainly Will give me credit for the average
amount am, Oh alndness sympathy and human feeling
Yet cannot agree with you about that deserter
According to all accounts he was a sensible lad
ne knew his duty as soldier. He knew that If he
deserted he would be Shot What did he dO9
When the enemy was marching on, threatening
THIS very city, endangering the existence OF the
confederacy, he sneaked off to the woods. Some
| say he was going TO see his mother. 1t does not
matter. He was deserter. II we spared him other,
would have to be spared. The army would be de-
we ao 20 shoot MIN as an example. 1t could not
De avoided. Now, let us drop the subject. know
that am right, and should like to see any one
stand nad, up and nn say that am wrong"
The wave OF thunderous sound rolled over the
whole city, and people stopped to listen.
just then light wagon, covered with dust and
evidently from the country stopped in front OF the
store. TWO women alighted and came in one
| enough to be her mother, leaned on her arm.
have you an evening paper?" the young woman
He handed one to her, and the old woman,
arranging her spectacless glanced nervOusy
over IL.
Eyes, 1t is true that there was an execution
paniOn.
Boom!
For some reason the officers relapsed into an en-
barrassed silence. The major with his index finger
commenced drawing f0rt1fcatiOns on map OF
Georgia. The captain looked moodily at the 1oor.
his pocket and then thrust it back again.
ooh, mercy!' exclaimed the young woman in a
oh my Gods nv Door s mF s ee if hov .nen
So wild, unearthly and piercing was the cry that
every man in the room started In alarm
d II.
ing for breath, with her face as white as sheet
Her companion gently famed her until she laid
her gray head on her hand and SObbed aloud
Turning to the sympathetic and silent specta.
tors, the young woman pointed to a paragraph In
the paper and said:
1T was her bOy-her only SON. The paper calls
1t military Justice. We call it murders"
The general gradually moved toward the door
His head was bowed and his hands trembled AS
soon as he got outside he walked of at a rapid
pace. The major made several influential al
tempts to build a strong redOubt with his finger
tip on the map OF Georgia, but suddenly COLLAPSED
and abruptly bOlted. The captain remained. He
brought the old woman glass OF water and
famed her while he listened with sad but kindly
| face TO the young WOmans story
1t seems that the boys mother lived thirty miles
| In the country. Vague reports reached her that
| her son was In trouble and she rode In with a
neighbor, arriving an hour or two after the execu-
| tiOn caught this much OF 1t, and then an eager
desire seized me to follow the example of the gene
| raj and the major. AS went out OF the door
| looked back. The old woman was silently nray
Ing, while the tears ran down her WIthered cheeks
| Her friend looked down upon her with pityinV
| eyes, and the captain had one hand over his
bronzed face. The big guns continued to boom ali
that afternoon, but did not hear them. / had
| something else TO think Of.
| ----->O>-
| Strange Revere 81 Fortune.
| From Galignanis Messenger, of Paris.